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Across the Winding River
A woman unlocks the mystery of her father’s wartime past in a moving novel about secrets, sacrifice, and the power of love by the bestselling author of Daughters of the Night Sky.
Beth Cohen wants to make the most of the months she has left with her elderly father, Max. His only request of his daughter is to go through the long-forgotten box of memorabilia from his days as a medic on the western front. Then, among his wartime souvenirs, Beth finds a photograph of her father with an adoring and beautiful stranger—a photograph worth a thousand questions.
It was 1944 when Max was drawn into the underground resistance by the fearless German wife of a Nazi officer. Together, she and Max were willing to risk everything for what they believed was right. Ahead of them lay a dangerous romance, a dream of escape, and a destiny over which neither had control.
But Max isn’t alone in his haunting remembrances of war. In a nearby private care home is a fragile German-born woman with her own past to share. Only when the two women meet does Beth realize how much more to her father there is to know, all the ways in which his heart still breaks, and the closure he needs to heal it.
Beth Cohen wants to make the most of the months she has left with her elderly father, Max. His only request of his daughter is to go through the long-forgotten box of memorabilia from his days as a medic on the western front. Then, among his wartime souvenirs, Beth finds a photograph of her father with an adoring and beautiful stranger—a photograph worth a thousand questions.
It was 1944 when Max was drawn into the underground resistance by the fearless German wife of a Nazi officer. Together, she and Max were willing to risk everything for what they believed was right. Ahead of them lay a dangerous romance, a dream of escape, and a destiny over which neither had control.
But Max isn’t alone in his haunting remembrances of war. In a nearby private care home is a fragile German-born woman with her own past to share. Only when the two women meet does Beth realize how much more to her father there is to know, all the ways in which his heart still breaks, and the closure he needs to heal it.
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First published August 1, 2020
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About the author
Aimie K. Runyan
15 books1,484 followersAimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books, The Castle Keepers (in collaboration with J'nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan) and A Bakery in Paris will release in 2023 from Harper Collins. Also from Harper Collins, Aimie's contemporary Women's Fiction debut, The Memory of Lavender and Sage, will release in early 2024. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon. To learn more about Aimie, please visit www.aimiekrunyan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 972 reviews
August 2, 2020
Beth Cohen’s dad Max is 90 and living in an aged care home and one day he asked his daughter to find a box containing his mementos from his time serving as a medic during WW II. Of course she has a look at the contents of the box and she discovers a photo of her dad with a pretty pregnant woman and the lady isn’t her mother?
1944 Max finished his dental training; he decided to serve his country and joined the army as a medic. While stationed in Germany he met a young married woman called Margarethe, they had a very short romantic relationship, after the war ended he tried to find her, he couldn’t, he had no idea what happened to Metta and her baby. Older Max had one wish; he would like Beth to find out what happened to Metta and her baby. After 60 years Beth doesn’t like her chances of finding them and her dad doesn’t even know her last name.
Johanna Patterson is Metta’s older sister, during WW II engineer in Germany she designed and flew planes. Post war Germany was a total mess, people lost contact with each other during the chaos and it was difficult to find someone missing. Both Max and Johanna separately spent over two years trying to find Margarethe and they had no luck eventually they had no choice and moved on with their lives. All three main characters stories are connected, you have Max who knows his time is running out and he wants closure. Beth who has recently divorced and wants to make the most of her time that she has left with her dad and let him rest in peace knowing what happened to his first love Metta. Johanna has married again; she no longer lives in Germany and after 60 years still wants to find her beloved sister.
Across The Winding River's plot is based around Max, Metta’s and Johanna’s experiences during WW II; it’s a gripping dual timeline story about war, love, loss, sacrifice, destiny, persistence and years later still desperately needing to find closure. I enjoyed really enjoyed the book, Aimie K. Ruyan's books never disappoint and fours stars from me. I have shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Kobo and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
1944 Max finished his dental training; he decided to serve his country and joined the army as a medic. While stationed in Germany he met a young married woman called Margarethe, they had a very short romantic relationship, after the war ended he tried to find her, he couldn’t, he had no idea what happened to Metta and her baby. Older Max had one wish; he would like Beth to find out what happened to Metta and her baby. After 60 years Beth doesn’t like her chances of finding them and her dad doesn’t even know her last name.
Johanna Patterson is Metta’s older sister, during WW II engineer in Germany she designed and flew planes. Post war Germany was a total mess, people lost contact with each other during the chaos and it was difficult to find someone missing. Both Max and Johanna separately spent over two years trying to find Margarethe and they had no luck eventually they had no choice and moved on with their lives. All three main characters stories are connected, you have Max who knows his time is running out and he wants closure. Beth who has recently divorced and wants to make the most of her time that she has left with her dad and let him rest in peace knowing what happened to his first love Metta. Johanna has married again; she no longer lives in Germany and after 60 years still wants to find her beloved sister.
Across The Winding River's plot is based around Max, Metta’s and Johanna’s experiences during WW II; it’s a gripping dual timeline story about war, love, loss, sacrifice, destiny, persistence and years later still desperately needing to find closure. I enjoyed really enjoyed the book, Aimie K. Ruyan's books never disappoint and fours stars from me. I have shared my review on Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Kobo and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
August 15, 2023
A women finds an old photograph in her father's WWII memorabilia and that is where the mystery begins. It’s a picture worth a thousand questions and a journey into the past.
This is a story about family, love and loyalty.
There are many characters and throughout the story you become invested in them all.
This book is brilliantly plotted and delightfully written with a family drama about strength, secrets and sacrifice.
This is a story about family, love and loyalty.
There are many characters and throughout the story you become invested in them all.
This book is brilliantly plotted and delightfully written with a family drama about strength, secrets and sacrifice.
September 9, 2020
A women finds an old photograph in her father's WWII memorabilia and that is where the mystery begins. I found it helpful to read the author's notes before I started the book because the book has three timelines and three POV's, so can be difficult to keep it all straight at times. Reading the author’s notes helped simplify the complexity of the story for me.
This is a story about family, love and loyalty. There are many characters and throughout the story you become invested in them all. It is a complex and entertaining story based on facts that kept me engaged to the end!!
I would recommend this book if you like WWII genre, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my review
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#NetGalley #AcrosstheWindingRiver
This is a story about family, love and loyalty. There are many characters and throughout the story you become invested in them all. It is a complex and entertaining story based on facts that kept me engaged to the end!!
I would recommend this book if you like WWII genre, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my review
.
#NetGalley #AcrosstheWindingRiver
July 10, 2020
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I would like to take a moment to thank the publisher and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and leave an unbiased review.
Now that I have the particulars out of the way - I am happy to say that this is one fantastic book. I loved it, start to finish.
Loosely based on fact, this story deftly weaves the connection between three separate point of views, and three timelines - and it never gets confusion. Instead, it's like a finely woven piece of cloth that never frays or disappoints.
One of the best characters is also one of the main characters whose name is Max. In the current time Max is about 90 years old. The book includes his reflections of his time many years prior, when he was an American Jewish dentist who became a medic in WWII, some 60 years ago.
While in Germany, Max meets and falls for Margerethe. A resistance fighter, something about her draws Max and the two fall in love.
Due to Aimie K. Ruynan's amazing writing ability, you will be transported in time back to WWII in Germany. You will feel every single emotion available to mankind, and it will leave you with very deep feelings.
In the current time, Max has asked his daughter Beth to retrieve something from storage - a box filled with items he wants to see one more time. Like many veterans, what Max went through during the War is something he does not speak about. However, Max has kept in touch with the friends he made during the war - people who know what went on and they share the heartaches and triumphs when they speak with each other.
We learn that Max joined the war after his beloved mother gave him her blessing to do so following the news that her family in Latvia, and so Max's life is changed forever.
A great author, and a great read.
Now that I have the particulars out of the way - I am happy to say that this is one fantastic book. I loved it, start to finish.
Loosely based on fact, this story deftly weaves the connection between three separate point of views, and three timelines - and it never gets confusion. Instead, it's like a finely woven piece of cloth that never frays or disappoints.
One of the best characters is also one of the main characters whose name is Max. In the current time Max is about 90 years old. The book includes his reflections of his time many years prior, when he was an American Jewish dentist who became a medic in WWII, some 60 years ago.
While in Germany, Max meets and falls for Margerethe. A resistance fighter, something about her draws Max and the two fall in love.
Due to Aimie K. Ruynan's amazing writing ability, you will be transported in time back to WWII in Germany. You will feel every single emotion available to mankind, and it will leave you with very deep feelings.
In the current time, Max has asked his daughter Beth to retrieve something from storage - a box filled with items he wants to see one more time. Like many veterans, what Max went through during the War is something he does not speak about. However, Max has kept in touch with the friends he made during the war - people who know what went on and they share the heartaches and triumphs when they speak with each other.
We learn that Max joined the war after his beloved mother gave him her blessing to do so following the news that her family in Latvia, and so Max's life is changed forever.
A great author, and a great read.
July 21, 2020
This was my first read of this author. My expectations were high but barely met.
The story is told through three POVs in three different time frames - Beth (present day) is the daughter of Max, a dentist who served for the Allies in WWII; Max (during WWII-era) who at first wants to go to war and then becomes a medic in France; Johanna (WWII-era), a female engineer for the Nazi Luftwaffe (German air force). Hence, right out of the gate, the reader may be confused. The jumping back and forth between time frames and narrators loses the ability to "hook" the reader effectively in the first few chapters. And each chapter is written in first-person (i.e., "I did this. I did that.) but it's three different narrators. After a few rounds of narrators (chapters), however, I was able to follow the rotation well.
The basic premise is that present day Max (as seen through his daughter, Beth) is looking for a woman he met in France in WWII who was part of the German resistance. He'd spent much time right after the war searching for her and would have married her if he had been successful. Beth is told this story early in the book by her father and seems to take it ridiculously well (that her father was much more in love with a woman from his past than her own mother).
Without spoiling too much, the book delves into numerous themes including the harsh treatment by the Nazis of anyone with a hint of non-Aryan genealogy, the role of women in the war, the environment of fear in Nazi Germany, and how love and humanity can triumph in such a bizarre environment.
What was good about the novel? It's an easy read. It weaves all the characters and plot points successfully, that is, all the loose ends are tied up at the end. The historical perspective of living inside Germany during the war is somewhat unique. Johanna was clearly the most interesting character. It "may" be a nice love story if... (read below)
What was not so good? Beth was about as flat a character as you can get. There's an attempt at a romantic relationship in the book with her and another, but you may not care and it seems superfluous to the plot. She's really only there to narrate. Much of the historical portion of the book seemed glossed over as if the author learned just enough to make it historical fiction. Dialogue is flat and uninteresting in many places as well.
What was bad? The plot is contrived. There are two HUGE coincidences in the book that may challenge readers' suspension of disbelief. When I hit the first one, it nearly stopped me from finishing the book. This is the reason for my lower rating. The novel doesn't really seem to move toward a climax. Most novels try to stretch the tension and heighten the stakes toward the end. Even in the last 10%, there's a spot where a couple of characters are speaking to each other like its another day in the park. My brain was saying, "Move on with it!"
All the negative comments above aside, I believe there is a segment of readers who will enjoy the story. It's a positive, loving, kind of feel-good story. If that's what you are looking for and can easily suspend your disbelief, go for it.
The story is told through three POVs in three different time frames - Beth (present day) is the daughter of Max, a dentist who served for the Allies in WWII; Max (during WWII-era) who at first wants to go to war and then becomes a medic in France; Johanna (WWII-era), a female engineer for the Nazi Luftwaffe (German air force). Hence, right out of the gate, the reader may be confused. The jumping back and forth between time frames and narrators loses the ability to "hook" the reader effectively in the first few chapters. And each chapter is written in first-person (i.e., "I did this. I did that.) but it's three different narrators. After a few rounds of narrators (chapters), however, I was able to follow the rotation well.
The basic premise is that present day Max (as seen through his daughter, Beth) is looking for a woman he met in France in WWII who was part of the German resistance. He'd spent much time right after the war searching for her and would have married her if he had been successful. Beth is told this story early in the book by her father and seems to take it ridiculously well (that her father was much more in love with a woman from his past than her own mother).
Without spoiling too much, the book delves into numerous themes including the harsh treatment by the Nazis of anyone with a hint of non-Aryan genealogy, the role of women in the war, the environment of fear in Nazi Germany, and how love and humanity can triumph in such a bizarre environment.
What was good about the novel? It's an easy read. It weaves all the characters and plot points successfully, that is, all the loose ends are tied up at the end. The historical perspective of living inside Germany during the war is somewhat unique. Johanna was clearly the most interesting character. It "may" be a nice love story if... (read below)
What was not so good? Beth was about as flat a character as you can get. There's an attempt at a romantic relationship in the book with her and another, but you may not care and it seems superfluous to the plot. She's really only there to narrate. Much of the historical portion of the book seemed glossed over as if the author learned just enough to make it historical fiction. Dialogue is flat and uninteresting in many places as well.
What was bad? The plot is contrived. There are two HUGE coincidences in the book that may challenge readers' suspension of disbelief. When I hit the first one, it nearly stopped me from finishing the book. This is the reason for my lower rating. The novel doesn't really seem to move toward a climax. Most novels try to stretch the tension and heighten the stakes toward the end. Even in the last 10%, there's a spot where a couple of characters are speaking to each other like its another day in the park. My brain was saying, "Move on with it!"
All the negative comments above aside, I believe there is a segment of readers who will enjoy the story. It's a positive, loving, kind of feel-good story. If that's what you are looking for and can easily suspend your disbelief, go for it.
August 2, 2020
A brilliantly plotted and delightfully written family drama about strength, secrets and sacrifice
SUMMARY
Beth Cohen wants to make the most of the time she has left with her elderly father, Max. He asks his daughter is to go through the long forgotten box of memorabilia from his days as a medic on the Western front. Among the war times souvenirs, Beth finds a surprising photograph of her father with an adoring beautiful stranger. It’s a picture worth a thousand questions and a journey into the past.
When Max Blumenthal meets Margarethe, the German wife of a Nazi officer his world shifts. Margarethe is actually a member of the resistance and their meeting in 1944 in Hürtgen Forest, Germany put them both at risk. After only one meeting, Max is willing to sacrifice everything to be with Margarethe. He even secures travel papers for her, allowing her to seek amnesty and safety at a border crossing.
Johanna Schiller is an aeronautical engineer and works for the German aerospace center designing faster, safer and more agile planes. She is one of only two women test pilots at the center. In order to keep her job Johanna must prove her heritage in order to receive her honorary Aryan status. But politics were changing and for Johanna building deadlier planes to protect German was one thing. Creating them to serve Hitler was quite another,
REVIEW
Across the Winding River is a sterling family drama that flows between WWII and the present time. It is a brilliantly plotted and delightfully woven story told through three narratives. While a slightly challenging read, the intersecting narratives makes the story of war, love, courage and sacrifice powerful.
My favorite part of the book is authors Aimie Runyan’s portrayal of three women of substance. I was particularly enamored with Johanna in 1944 and her ceiling-shattering career. Beth and Margarethe‘s characters also showed strength, fortitude and intelligence. This portrayal of strong women is exactly what is needed in literature today to serve as role models and counter the stereotypical victim role for women.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Across the Winding River was that it was inspired by a true story. Runyan’s Author’s Notes provides a wealth of information about the basis for story and about Johanna’s character. I am extremely appreciative when a historical fiction author takes the time to distinguish between the facts and fiction in the story.
Runyan does a fabulous job writing to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She is the author of four previous historical novels including Daughters of the Night Sky, Girls on the Line, Promised to the Crown, and Duty to the Crown.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published August 1, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Beth Cohen wants to make the most of the time she has left with her elderly father, Max. He asks his daughter is to go through the long forgotten box of memorabilia from his days as a medic on the Western front. Among the war times souvenirs, Beth finds a surprising photograph of her father with an adoring beautiful stranger. It’s a picture worth a thousand questions and a journey into the past.
When Max Blumenthal meets Margarethe, the German wife of a Nazi officer his world shifts. Margarethe is actually a member of the resistance and their meeting in 1944 in Hürtgen Forest, Germany put them both at risk. After only one meeting, Max is willing to sacrifice everything to be with Margarethe. He even secures travel papers for her, allowing her to seek amnesty and safety at a border crossing.
Johanna Schiller is an aeronautical engineer and works for the German aerospace center designing faster, safer and more agile planes. She is one of only two women test pilots at the center. In order to keep her job Johanna must prove her heritage in order to receive her honorary Aryan status. But politics were changing and for Johanna building deadlier planes to protect German was one thing. Creating them to serve Hitler was quite another,
REVIEW
Across the Winding River is a sterling family drama that flows between WWII and the present time. It is a brilliantly plotted and delightfully woven story told through three narratives. While a slightly challenging read, the intersecting narratives makes the story of war, love, courage and sacrifice powerful.
My favorite part of the book is authors Aimie Runyan’s portrayal of three women of substance. I was particularly enamored with Johanna in 1944 and her ceiling-shattering career. Beth and Margarethe‘s characters also showed strength, fortitude and intelligence. This portrayal of strong women is exactly what is needed in literature today to serve as role models and counter the stereotypical victim role for women.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Across the Winding River was that it was inspired by a true story. Runyan’s Author’s Notes provides a wealth of information about the basis for story and about Johanna’s character. I am extremely appreciative when a historical fiction author takes the time to distinguish between the facts and fiction in the story.
Runyan does a fabulous job writing to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She is the author of four previous historical novels including Daughters of the Night Sky, Girls on the Line, Promised to the Crown, and Duty to the Crown.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Lake Union
Published August 1, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
April 5, 2020
Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
I can’t remember what I expected going into Aimie K. Runyan’s Across the Winding River, but the novel surpassed my expectations and surprised me in a variety of ways.
I am a historical fiction reader and usually appreciate the historical storylines of dual narratives more than the modern ones. Across the Winding River, however, proved an exception thanks to the emotional arc Runyan gifted Beth. The vulnerability she exudes pulls on the heartstrings and resonates with an authenticity I’ve rarely seen in my reading. The thought and care Runyan crafted in this story gave it something special, a fact which balanced my natural appreciation for the war era elements of the narrative.
Johanna also captured my attention. She is a strong and engaging character in her own right, but what impressed me was Runyan’s ability to avoid repetition. The author tackled women in wartime aviation in her 2018 release, Daughters of the Night Sky. Runyan’s admiration for this groundbreaking generation is obvious, but her ability to channel her esteem into another facet of their accomplishments so completely protected the individuality of both Johanna and Katya, even in the eyes of those familiar with her earlier work.
I’d be remiss in my commentary if I failed to mention Max. Some might overlook his arc alongside Beth and Johanna, but the resilience he exhibits despite circumstance and his natural affability is truly extraordinary. There is a sort of innocence lost element to his experiences and I liked how Runyan chose to illustrate a man who was forever marked by his journey but refused to be broken by it.
Finally, I want to note Metta’s contribution to the narrative. Her story plays out in the background of the novel and while I liked what she represents for each of the narrators, I can’t deny falling in love with what she symbolizes on the larger scale. The intangibility of her voice is a beautiful ode the stories the war obscured, and I found Runyan’s acknowledgment of that reality heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
I can’t remember what I expected going into Aimie K. Runyan’s Across the Winding River, but the novel surpassed my expectations and surprised me in a variety of ways.
I am a historical fiction reader and usually appreciate the historical storylines of dual narratives more than the modern ones. Across the Winding River, however, proved an exception thanks to the emotional arc Runyan gifted Beth. The vulnerability she exudes pulls on the heartstrings and resonates with an authenticity I’ve rarely seen in my reading. The thought and care Runyan crafted in this story gave it something special, a fact which balanced my natural appreciation for the war era elements of the narrative.
Johanna also captured my attention. She is a strong and engaging character in her own right, but what impressed me was Runyan’s ability to avoid repetition. The author tackled women in wartime aviation in her 2018 release, Daughters of the Night Sky. Runyan’s admiration for this groundbreaking generation is obvious, but her ability to channel her esteem into another facet of their accomplishments so completely protected the individuality of both Johanna and Katya, even in the eyes of those familiar with her earlier work.
I’d be remiss in my commentary if I failed to mention Max. Some might overlook his arc alongside Beth and Johanna, but the resilience he exhibits despite circumstance and his natural affability is truly extraordinary. There is a sort of innocence lost element to his experiences and I liked how Runyan chose to illustrate a man who was forever marked by his journey but refused to be broken by it.
Finally, I want to note Metta’s contribution to the narrative. Her story plays out in the background of the novel and while I liked what she represents for each of the narrators, I can’t deny falling in love with what she symbolizes on the larger scale. The intangibility of her voice is a beautiful ode the stories the war obscured, and I found Runyan’s acknowledgment of that reality heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
July 2, 2020
I loved this book, it was wonderful to read. I just couldn’t put it down. The chapters were short and split into different time lines, present day and 1942, 1944. It was interesting and at times sad. It was the first book I’ve read by this author but, I have already downloaded more of her books from kindle unlimited. A book you can lose yourself in.
July 13, 2020
I enjoyed the story a lot and had a real emotional reaction at times. The real thing that took away from the plot are several events that just seem unrealistic. If I put them aside, then I’d rate this book a good 4.
May 12, 2025
beautiful
A delightful, heartwarming dual timeline story that seamlessly moves between present day USA and wartorn Europe during WW2. I recommend this book.
A delightful, heartwarming dual timeline story that seamlessly moves between present day USA and wartorn Europe during WW2. I recommend this book.
June 28, 2020
Beth Cohen's father Max a WWII veteran living in a nursing home.
What Beth knew of her fathers past was in the old photos he had in a box. There was a photo of him and a blond German woman...a mystery woman . Beth wanted to know more.
As the story unfolds there is a time line form 1944-1945 to the present day. It's hard for her father to talk of this mystery woman. There was a child one the way. After the war he had tried to find her and the child , but with no success.
Max meets a woman at the nursing home, a Mrs. Patterson. During their conversation she told Max about her missing sister in Germany. This woman Metta was one and the same...the one he was looking for.
Through more searching , the child was found; now an adult David Bauer. Beth had a brother
When David came to the United States and Met Max. He looked so much like Max when Max was younger
Finally Max was at peace finding his son.
I won this free book from Goodreads First reads.
What Beth knew of her fathers past was in the old photos he had in a box. There was a photo of him and a blond German woman...a mystery woman . Beth wanted to know more.
As the story unfolds there is a time line form 1944-1945 to the present day. It's hard for her father to talk of this mystery woman. There was a child one the way. After the war he had tried to find her and the child , but with no success.
Max meets a woman at the nursing home, a Mrs. Patterson. During their conversation she told Max about her missing sister in Germany. This woman Metta was one and the same...the one he was looking for.
Through more searching , the child was found; now an adult David Bauer. Beth had a brother
When David came to the United States and Met Max. He looked so much like Max when Max was younger
Finally Max was at peace finding his son.
I won this free book from Goodreads First reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2020
I definitely have the minority opinion here that this is a "meh" read. I did not enjoy the three different points of views and two different timelines all going on at once. Plus, some events and details were too coincidental to be believable.
January 20, 2024
When Beth follows her dad's dying wish to look through his WWII war memorabilia, she discovers a family secret. Will they be able to find the woman in the photo before it's too late?
"It's not hopeless... You'd be amazed at how much can be found with a shred of information, a fistful of determination, and a dollop of luck."
Alternating between two timelines, Across the Winding River follows Max as he meets Metta, a member of the German resistance, while working as a medic in World War II and his daughter, Beth, in 2007 all the way until the two story lines converge. As always, I enjoyed this author's writing style, and I teared up twice towards the end. If you love serendipitous stories full of love and hope, then try this one.
"Max, there are precious few people in this world with a good heart like yours. It's worth protecting. More than almost anything else, it's worth keeping safe."
If you want to read more about female pilots during WWII, then I would highly recommend Daughters of the Night Sky (4 stars) by the same author!
Location: 2007 Encinitas, California and WWII Germany
3.5 stars
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
"It's not hopeless... You'd be amazed at how much can be found with a shred of information, a fistful of determination, and a dollop of luck."
Alternating between two timelines, Across the Winding River follows Max as he meets Metta, a member of the German resistance, while working as a medic in World War II and his daughter, Beth, in 2007 all the way until the two story lines converge. As always, I enjoyed this author's writing style, and I teared up twice towards the end. If you love serendipitous stories full of love and hope, then try this one.
"Max, there are precious few people in this world with a good heart like yours. It's worth protecting. More than almost anything else, it's worth keeping safe."
If you want to read more about female pilots during WWII, then I would highly recommend Daughters of the Night Sky (4 stars) by the same author!
Location: 2007 Encinitas, California and WWII Germany
3.5 stars
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2020
Calling all World War II and historical fiction lovers!! Have I got a book for you, Across the Winding River by Aimie K. Runyan is such a magnificent story spanning three different timelines and many decades. There are three viewpoints in this book - Beth in present day 2007, her father Max (set during the war and shortly afterwards), and Johanna who is an engineer and test pilot for Nazi Germany. I absolutely loved how Runyan intertwined all of the stories together and my jaw dropped open more than once during the book.
Since we're dealing with war, Across the Winding River is definitely not all sunshine and roses, so I was very happy that the author infused it with so much humor. I loved that so many parts made me laugh, while it was also serious, heartbreaking, and inspirational as well. I also thought it was really cool that there was a character based in the Luftwaffe since that is something I know very little about. Two characters (one being Johanna) are very loosely based on actual women who worked there which was so incredibly interesting. I loved the author's note at the back so be sure not to skip that either!
I actually ended up listening to the audio of Across the Winding River, and it is truly something you don't want to miss. Thanks to this being under the Amazon Publishing umbrella (which means the audio is Brilliance Audio), I was able to get the Kindle version plus audiobook from Kindle Unlimited and I absolutely loved the audio. It is narrated by Kathleen Gati, Lisa Flanagan, and Michael Crouch and they all did such an amazing job. It helped me feel like I was right there with the characters, and I would gladly listen to this book all over again thanks to them.
I thought that Runyan did such an amazing job with the complex novel that is Across the Winding River, and it made for an addicting read, especially with the addition of the mystery. I loved so many of the characters, and even though she wasn't a POV, Johanna's sister Metta was a huge part of this story as well and I loved her so much. I can't believe I haven't read a book by this author before, but I cannot wait to get to her backlist now!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of this book! All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Since we're dealing with war, Across the Winding River is definitely not all sunshine and roses, so I was very happy that the author infused it with so much humor. I loved that so many parts made me laugh, while it was also serious, heartbreaking, and inspirational as well. I also thought it was really cool that there was a character based in the Luftwaffe since that is something I know very little about. Two characters (one being Johanna) are very loosely based on actual women who worked there which was so incredibly interesting. I loved the author's note at the back so be sure not to skip that either!
I actually ended up listening to the audio of Across the Winding River, and it is truly something you don't want to miss. Thanks to this being under the Amazon Publishing umbrella (which means the audio is Brilliance Audio), I was able to get the Kindle version plus audiobook from Kindle Unlimited and I absolutely loved the audio. It is narrated by Kathleen Gati, Lisa Flanagan, and Michael Crouch and they all did such an amazing job. It helped me feel like I was right there with the characters, and I would gladly listen to this book all over again thanks to them.
I thought that Runyan did such an amazing job with the complex novel that is Across the Winding River, and it made for an addicting read, especially with the addition of the mystery. I loved so many of the characters, and even though she wasn't a POV, Johanna's sister Metta was a huge part of this story as well and I loved her so much. I can't believe I haven't read a book by this author before, but I cannot wait to get to her backlist now!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of this book! All opinions and thoughts are my own.
August 7, 2020
Across the Winding River by Aimie K. Runyan is a rich historical novel. Dr. Beth Cohen regrets that she did not spend more time with her mother when she was dying, and she is not going to make that mistake with her father. His request to look at his old box of World War II mementoes provides Beth with insight into her father and has her on a quest. The story takes place from 1937 to 2007. It goes back in forth in time and switches point-of-view from Beth, Max (Beth’s father), and Johanna. Johanna lost touch with her sister after the war and she has wondered all these years what happened to her. Johanna would like to get answers for herself and for her children. We see how the war affected Max and Johanna plus we get answers on Beth’s hunt. It sounds confusing, but it is not. It is all beautifully woven together into one complete piece. I like how their stories connected. We get transported back to World War II where Max is serving as a medic and Johanna is an engineer who designs planes. Johanna has a brother in the SS and her sister marries a high-ranking SS officer. Johanna is against everything Hitler stands for and believes in, but she loves her job. We get a look at life inside Germany during the war. Across the Winding River is a well-written with a complex plot and developed characters. The story does play out in an expected manner and the pacing is slow in the beginning. It is a compelling story, though, that will soon capture and hold your interest. The last seventy-five percent is the best part of the book. The pace and tension ramp up. Everything begins coming together and you get that aha moment. Across the Winding River is a captivating story about hope, love, loss, and courage.
July 16, 2020
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the free review copy. Opinions are my own.
This is a beautiful story about love and courage. Across the Winding River is a multi POV/timeline WWII Historical Fiction that takes us from San Diego to Germany. It follows Beth in present day, trying to learn more about her father, Max, in the few months they have left together. Max is finally ready to share the secrets he has held onto since the war. We’re also introduced to Johanna, a German woman trapped in a regime she wants no part in.
What worked for me: I loved the story, the characters, and the setting. I enjoyed all of the POVs equally, which is rare! I always appreciate WWII stories that have perspectives from both Germans and non-Germans. Across the Winding River is heartbreaking, but beautiful and redemptive.
What didn’t work for me: Parts of the story were a bit rushed or a little too convenient. It didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment though. Reading the author’s note at the end also made me appreciate those parts of the story more.
4+ stars - I really liked it and look forward to reading more of this author’s books. I’d recommend reading this as a hardcopy as there are multiple timelines that skip around a bit and I would’ve preferred to easily turn back to reference where in the story we were at.
This is a beautiful story about love and courage. Across the Winding River is a multi POV/timeline WWII Historical Fiction that takes us from San Diego to Germany. It follows Beth in present day, trying to learn more about her father, Max, in the few months they have left together. Max is finally ready to share the secrets he has held onto since the war. We’re also introduced to Johanna, a German woman trapped in a regime she wants no part in.
What worked for me: I loved the story, the characters, and the setting. I enjoyed all of the POVs equally, which is rare! I always appreciate WWII stories that have perspectives from both Germans and non-Germans. Across the Winding River is heartbreaking, but beautiful and redemptive.
What didn’t work for me: Parts of the story were a bit rushed or a little too convenient. It didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment though. Reading the author’s note at the end also made me appreciate those parts of the story more.
4+ stars - I really liked it and look forward to reading more of this author’s books. I’d recommend reading this as a hardcopy as there are multiple timelines that skip around a bit and I would’ve preferred to easily turn back to reference where in the story we were at.
August 17, 2020
An excellent story written about the events of 1944 Germany where American medic Max Blumenthal meets the beautiful German woman Margarethe, a member of the resistance, and is drawn into her world. Margarethe is the wife of a cruel Nazi officer, but does not let her fear stop her from risking her life for her cause. She and Max have an immediate connection and a hope of a life together once the mission is complete.
This story is told in triple narrative over multiple timelines, but it was easy to follow. It begins in nearly present-day with Max’s daughter Beth and her worry about her elderly father. In a nursing home, Max asks Beth to bring him a box of war memorabilia from home and the contents start a quest neither of them could have imagined.
There were many characters intertwined in this book and I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that it was deeply moving. I was very much involved in these characters' lives and their outcomes. I couldn’t help but compare the hardships that people in wartime of that period and earlier lived through, both on the front and at home. Not to diminish what people go through today because our servicemen and their families sacrifice so much, but those earlier people had nothing but an occasional letter that would arrive written months earlier. There was no phone contact, email, Internet, or Facetime contact. The author made all this so real and heartbreaking. This book was compelling, well-written, and thoroughly researched and I even enjoyed the “Author’s Note” at the end. This one will stay with me for some time. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it. I gave it four stars.
This story is told in triple narrative over multiple timelines, but it was easy to follow. It begins in nearly present-day with Max’s daughter Beth and her worry about her elderly father. In a nursing home, Max asks Beth to bring him a box of war memorabilia from home and the contents start a quest neither of them could have imagined.
There were many characters intertwined in this book and I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that it was deeply moving. I was very much involved in these characters' lives and their outcomes. I couldn’t help but compare the hardships that people in wartime of that period and earlier lived through, both on the front and at home. Not to diminish what people go through today because our servicemen and their families sacrifice so much, but those earlier people had nothing but an occasional letter that would arrive written months earlier. There was no phone contact, email, Internet, or Facetime contact. The author made all this so real and heartbreaking. This book was compelling, well-written, and thoroughly researched and I even enjoyed the “Author’s Note” at the end. This one will stay with me for some time. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it. I gave it four stars.
July 1, 2020
Some Knee-Jerk Reactions and Questionable Medical Issue
I have some issues with this book, but let me talk about story basics and the good parts first.
This World War II/contemporary story contains three strands that interweave and sometimes touch. It is one of those novels that has long flashbacks with a contemporary framework that pulls it all together. In an unusual move, there are two past strands, and they begin at slightly different times, one just before all-out world war and one when the war is well underway. In 2007, Beth’s father is 90 years old and dying. One of his wishes is to go through his memorabilia box from World War II with her, something he had never done when she was growing up. A photo of him with a pretty, pregnant young German woman raises more questions than answers—for both Beth and Max. He never knew what happened to the woman or the child, and he wants closure before the end. We see flashbacks from Max’s perspective as well as through the eyes of the sister of the woman in the photograph. It takes a while for these storylines to dovetail and provide answers, but the author writes with heart and the book delivers on the feels in all the separate strands of the storyline. You can't help but want Max to find closure before his passing, even though it will be a difficult road no matter how it all eventually shakes out.
I do have some small quibbles, though. Some of what is written does feel like knee-jerk reactions to the horrors of Nazism rather than the nuanced, personalized reactions that would truly make the time come alive, seeing the complex issues that arose for different people, but the story is still written artfully. Also, as an RN, I cannot believe that a doctor would give a man prognosis based on blood pressure and liver tests! Good doctors shy away from prognoses in general, and a few blood tests and other bad numbers certainly do not equate to a certain amount of time being left in a person's life, even if he is 90 years old! I did feel at times, too, that this story had too much telling rather than showing, which I am never a fan of. There's a reason why there's an adage in writing that authors are supposed to “show, not tell.” It makes for more emotional immediacy as we get wrapped up living the story through the characters. This can't happen when we are just told. All in all, though, this was a compelling read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I have some issues with this book, but let me talk about story basics and the good parts first.
This World War II/contemporary story contains three strands that interweave and sometimes touch. It is one of those novels that has long flashbacks with a contemporary framework that pulls it all together. In an unusual move, there are two past strands, and they begin at slightly different times, one just before all-out world war and one when the war is well underway. In 2007, Beth’s father is 90 years old and dying. One of his wishes is to go through his memorabilia box from World War II with her, something he had never done when she was growing up. A photo of him with a pretty, pregnant young German woman raises more questions than answers—for both Beth and Max. He never knew what happened to the woman or the child, and he wants closure before the end. We see flashbacks from Max’s perspective as well as through the eyes of the sister of the woman in the photograph. It takes a while for these storylines to dovetail and provide answers, but the author writes with heart and the book delivers on the feels in all the separate strands of the storyline. You can't help but want Max to find closure before his passing, even though it will be a difficult road no matter how it all eventually shakes out.
I do have some small quibbles, though. Some of what is written does feel like knee-jerk reactions to the horrors of Nazism rather than the nuanced, personalized reactions that would truly make the time come alive, seeing the complex issues that arose for different people, but the story is still written artfully. Also, as an RN, I cannot believe that a doctor would give a man prognosis based on blood pressure and liver tests! Good doctors shy away from prognoses in general, and a few blood tests and other bad numbers certainly do not equate to a certain amount of time being left in a person's life, even if he is 90 years old! I did feel at times, too, that this story had too much telling rather than showing, which I am never a fan of. There's a reason why there's an adage in writing that authors are supposed to “show, not tell.” It makes for more emotional immediacy as we get wrapped up living the story through the characters. This can't happen when we are just told. All in all, though, this was a compelling read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
April 5, 2020
I loved Aimie K. Runyan's DAUGHTERS OF THE NIGHT SKY and GIRLS ON THE LINE, and so I was excited to get her latest book as an ARC. While I liked ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER, I didn't love it like those other two.
Runyan tries some new things in her latest book. She tells the story in three points of view, with these three characters' lives intersecting. Two take place in WWII Germany and the other in 2007 San Diego.
I didn't think this book flowed as well as her others and there were things that were just way too convenient. For example, when Joanna's plane was shot down, she crash landed right in the exact place that her sister was. And as Max, who is at the end of his life in 2007, searches for Metta and their child, he discovers that Metta's sister, Joanna, miraculously lives in San Diego, not too far away.
Then there was one thing that bugged me the whole time. Beth, Max's daughter, is the main character for the 2007 timeline. Max is ninety years old. He married Rebecca in 1947, as the reader eventually discovers. Rebecca had a previous abusive husband that killed her unborn child and made it difficult to her to conceive. But Beth, in 2007, seems to only be in her late 30s. This means that Rebecca must have been in her 40s or 50s when she had Beth. How in the world did that happen?
Finally, there's the vague, generic title: ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER. Did I miss something? The sections that took place in the midst of battle in Germany were mainly in a forest. Maybe there was a river, but I don't remember. I don't like when books have these kind of forgettable titles that don't connect with the story.
Alas, I feel bad that I can't give this a glowing review like Runyan's other books. I think the author tried to do some different things, but it didn't work as well as her previous books.
Runyan tries some new things in her latest book. She tells the story in three points of view, with these three characters' lives intersecting. Two take place in WWII Germany and the other in 2007 San Diego.
I didn't think this book flowed as well as her others and there were things that were just way too convenient. For example, when Joanna's plane was shot down, she crash landed right in the exact place that her sister was. And as Max, who is at the end of his life in 2007, searches for Metta and their child, he discovers that Metta's sister, Joanna, miraculously lives in San Diego, not too far away.
Then there was one thing that bugged me the whole time. Beth, Max's daughter, is the main character for the 2007 timeline. Max is ninety years old. He married Rebecca in 1947, as the reader eventually discovers. Rebecca had a previous abusive husband that killed her unborn child and made it difficult to her to conceive. But Beth, in 2007, seems to only be in her late 30s. This means that Rebecca must have been in her 40s or 50s when she had Beth. How in the world did that happen?
Finally, there's the vague, generic title: ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER. Did I miss something? The sections that took place in the midst of battle in Germany were mainly in a forest. Maybe there was a river, but I don't remember. I don't like when books have these kind of forgettable titles that don't connect with the story.
Alas, I feel bad that I can't give this a glowing review like Runyan's other books. I think the author tried to do some different things, but it didn't work as well as her previous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
Tedious reading, the only investment I felt in this book was Johanna's story and eventually Metta's, Max's was alright. The pacing at the end became erratic to wrap up everyone's stories nice and tidy. Beth's segments were completely droll, her entire relationship subplot with Greg was unnecessary, filler, just poorly implemented into the story as a whole. The coincidences that line up in the story to make it all fall into place are way too neat and completely unbelievable. Overall, can't recommend it for historical fiction fans, it's really overly done thematically and reads like many other historical fictions I've read recently, but with no qualities that make it stand out aside from Johanna's story. If the entire story was culled of the "long lost search for loved ones after war" and was retold entirely from Johanna's story then it could've done very well. As is, it flops, disappointingly so.
July 22, 2024
Je to klišé jako každý jiný válečný román prolínající se se současností? Je. Je většina zvratů předvídatelná? Je.
Ale i tak mě děj skoro okamžitě pohltil a asi od strany 60 jsem knížku nedokázala odložit. Proto tu taky píšu recenzi ve 2 ráno, prostě jsem nemohla přestat číst.
SPOILER:
(Jako u všech knížek tohohle typu tu máme hořko-sladký konec. Přestože se Max setká se svým synem, Metta zemřela krátce po jeho narození, ještě ke všemu protože ji ten hajzl Ansel uškrtil. Kvůli tomu jsem si zase pobrečela. Vážně jsem doufala, že se na sklonku života ještě jednou setkají.)
Ale i tak mě děj skoro okamžitě pohltil a asi od strany 60 jsem knížku nedokázala odložit. Proto tu taky píšu recenzi ve 2 ráno, prostě jsem nemohla přestat číst.
SPOILER:
(Jako u všech knížek tohohle typu tu máme hořko-sladký konec. Přestože se Max setká se svým synem, Metta zemřela krátce po jeho narození, ještě ke všemu protože ji ten hajzl Ansel uškrtil. Kvůli tomu jsem si zase pobrečela. Vážně jsem doufala, že se na sklonku života ještě jednou setkají.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2020
A beautiful story of love and loss set against the backdrop of WWII. The book flowed well and while there was a bit of mystery involved, I didn't have that anxiety that I usually have while reading this type of historical fiction.
July 18, 2022
Well-researched, smooth writing, interesting characters & satisfying ending! Max was my favorite.
April 1, 2023
I enjoyed this historical novel set for the most part in Germany during WW2. It starts out, however, in Southern California, 2007, when Max, now in a nursing home with failing health, begins sharing with his daughter Beth a bit of his heretofore unknown past. She brings him a box of his memorabilia and asks him about a war picture of him as a medic holding a beautiful, young woman who is obviously pregnant. This would not be her mother, of course, as Beth's parents met after Max got home from Europe.
It's a good premise and teaser. The author then takes us back in time to two other storylines that eventually come together - Max's days as a medic on the front lines in France, and a woman named Johanna, who is a pilot and engineer working in the Luftwaffe developing war planes for Nazi Germany. She is a reluctant participant in the war and her family story, with their uncertainties and reservations, is well told.
How Johanna's and Max's stories come together is part of the developing plot, so no spoilers here. Jewish ancestry plays a role, so there's a hint. Suffice it to say that the author did a good job interweaving these three stories (one modern and two historical) into an effective and interesting narrative. Once you get used to the time jumps and point-of-view changes, it's easy and enjoyable reading. In addition, the historical elements were well placed and referenced.
Now, for action lovers, this book begins without much fanfare - no 'in medias res' thrills and suspense here. But the slow and gentle pacing served the rest of the novel well. This is a drama slash love story, but not necessarily of the heart-thumping kind; the telling here is not rushed. Overall, a good technique. However, I felt that some of the intense and urgent scenes could have had a bit more punch to them. Plus, there were a few 'hmm, not sure about that' moments. Still, the story was compelling overall and refreshing. Sad at times, but with a satisfying ending, which I was hoping for.
If you enjoy women's fiction and historical novels set against the backdrop of war, this is a good one. It's feminist in perspective, but not annoyingly so. (In other words, I didn't sense an ax to grind or a chip on the author's shoulder.) A good choice for a book club discussion, I think. For me, 4.5 stars and a nice break from my usual fare of action thriller and suspense.
It's a good premise and teaser. The author then takes us back in time to two other storylines that eventually come together - Max's days as a medic on the front lines in France, and a woman named Johanna, who is a pilot and engineer working in the Luftwaffe developing war planes for Nazi Germany. She is a reluctant participant in the war and her family story, with their uncertainties and reservations, is well told.
How Johanna's and Max's stories come together is part of the developing plot, so no spoilers here. Jewish ancestry plays a role, so there's a hint. Suffice it to say that the author did a good job interweaving these three stories (one modern and two historical) into an effective and interesting narrative. Once you get used to the time jumps and point-of-view changes, it's easy and enjoyable reading. In addition, the historical elements were well placed and referenced.
Now, for action lovers, this book begins without much fanfare - no 'in medias res' thrills and suspense here. But the slow and gentle pacing served the rest of the novel well. This is a drama slash love story, but not necessarily of the heart-thumping kind; the telling here is not rushed. Overall, a good technique. However, I felt that some of the intense and urgent scenes could have had a bit more punch to them. Plus, there were a few 'hmm, not sure about that' moments. Still, the story was compelling overall and refreshing. Sad at times, but with a satisfying ending, which I was hoping for.
If you enjoy women's fiction and historical novels set against the backdrop of war, this is a good one. It's feminist in perspective, but not annoyingly so. (In other words, I didn't sense an ax to grind or a chip on the author's shoulder.) A good choice for a book club discussion, I think. For me, 4.5 stars and a nice break from my usual fare of action thriller and suspense.
September 6, 2020
Full of compelling characters, Across the Winding River is told from three different points of view: Beth (present day), Max (WW2 & beyond), Johanna (WW2). The distinctions are clear between characters, so it’s easy to keep up with whose perspective you are currently reading, and the individual storylines engage your mind and your heart. The only slight confusion I had was that, while Max & Johanna’s stories are set in the same historical period, their timelines are slightly different. The fact that it momentarily confused me, however, is my own fault for not paying more attention to the clearly marked dates at the beginning of each chapter. Had I done so, I would have more quickly picked up on the fact that one timeline was just ahead of the other.
Beth is instantly relatable in her vulnerability and authenticity. A recent divorcee who is still nursing emotional wounds from a failed marriage, a daughter still grieving her mother’s death as well as her father’s physical decline, a woman battling loneliness with no apparent end in sight. Yet even in her brokenness Beth carries herself with a quiet strength that even she isn’t aware of – a strength that shows up when she most needs it and makes her a hero in her own right. She’s honest in her flaws and brave in pushing through them, and every woman reading Across the Winding River can see herself at least a little bit in Beth’s character.
Johanna embodies everything I love about reading stories set in WW2. She’s already a trailblazer by being a working woman even after marriage in Hitler’s Germany – and a woman working as an aviation engineer in a male-dominated field at that. The Nazi regime stands in direct contrast to her own beliefs, and I held my breath more than once as potential confrontations arose. What I loved most about Johanna is that she wasn’t on the front lines of the resistance; she didn’t rescue people from concentration camps or do anything especially grand to fight the Nazis. Instead, she quietly resisted in everyday ways until that was no longer an option. The heroes like Johanna don’t get nearly enough attention in historical fiction, usually taking a back seat to the more overt acts of resistance, but that makes them no less heroic.
Runyan also spotlights one of the good guys, and I loved reading Max’s narrative in the past as well as watching it play out through his daughter’s eyes in the present. He chose to go fight after the war became personal, and he made another conscious choice to do the right thing at risk to his own life & his reputation. Once he gives his love, it’s given for life – a fact that plays out in both the past & present narratives of this book. He isn’t perfect, and that plays out too, but again that makes him one of those quiet heroes like Beth & Johanna.
And I know this review is long enough already but I would desperately remiss if I neglected to mention the most important character in Across the Winding River – Metta. We don’t ever get to see the story from her perspective but she is undoubtedly the central figure in the larger narrative that Runyan is telling. She is the bravest of the heroes in our story, the most tragic, and the most victorious. And the one who will linger with you the longest after you’ve reached the last page.
Bottom Line: Across the Winding River is even more captivating and intriguing than I thought it would be (and I already had high expectations). Runyan brings to life strong women who fought to rise above not only societal limits on their gender but also an evil regime that threatened their values and their lives. She seamlessly connects three separate timelines in a way that keeps you invested in the outcome and engaged with the characters. This is a story that stays in your thoughts and your heart for a long while.
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I borrowed via Kindle Unlimited.)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some strong, though scattered, language and a couple of intimate scenes (though not explicit) in this book.
first appeared on Reading Is My SuperPower
Beth is instantly relatable in her vulnerability and authenticity. A recent divorcee who is still nursing emotional wounds from a failed marriage, a daughter still grieving her mother’s death as well as her father’s physical decline, a woman battling loneliness with no apparent end in sight. Yet even in her brokenness Beth carries herself with a quiet strength that even she isn’t aware of – a strength that shows up when she most needs it and makes her a hero in her own right. She’s honest in her flaws and brave in pushing through them, and every woman reading Across the Winding River can see herself at least a little bit in Beth’s character.
Johanna embodies everything I love about reading stories set in WW2. She’s already a trailblazer by being a working woman even after marriage in Hitler’s Germany – and a woman working as an aviation engineer in a male-dominated field at that. The Nazi regime stands in direct contrast to her own beliefs, and I held my breath more than once as potential confrontations arose. What I loved most about Johanna is that she wasn’t on the front lines of the resistance; she didn’t rescue people from concentration camps or do anything especially grand to fight the Nazis. Instead, she quietly resisted in everyday ways until that was no longer an option. The heroes like Johanna don’t get nearly enough attention in historical fiction, usually taking a back seat to the more overt acts of resistance, but that makes them no less heroic.
Runyan also spotlights one of the good guys, and I loved reading Max’s narrative in the past as well as watching it play out through his daughter’s eyes in the present. He chose to go fight after the war became personal, and he made another conscious choice to do the right thing at risk to his own life & his reputation. Once he gives his love, it’s given for life – a fact that plays out in both the past & present narratives of this book. He isn’t perfect, and that plays out too, but again that makes him one of those quiet heroes like Beth & Johanna.
And I know this review is long enough already but I would desperately remiss if I neglected to mention the most important character in Across the Winding River – Metta. We don’t ever get to see the story from her perspective but she is undoubtedly the central figure in the larger narrative that Runyan is telling. She is the bravest of the heroes in our story, the most tragic, and the most victorious. And the one who will linger with you the longest after you’ve reached the last page.
Bottom Line: Across the Winding River is even more captivating and intriguing than I thought it would be (and I already had high expectations). Runyan brings to life strong women who fought to rise above not only societal limits on their gender but also an evil regime that threatened their values and their lives. She seamlessly connects three separate timelines in a way that keeps you invested in the outcome and engaged with the characters. This is a story that stays in your thoughts and your heart for a long while.
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I borrowed via Kindle Unlimited.)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some strong, though scattered, language and a couple of intimate scenes (though not explicit) in this book.
first appeared on Reading Is My SuperPower
August 16, 2020
What can I say, I LOVE my WWII historical fiction and Aimie has written another one that knocks it out of the park. Dual storylines, war, and not giving up on a first love.
Max, a newly graduated dentist, finally gets his parents blessing to enlist into the war. He is sent over seas and soon in the midst of sewing and fixing soldiers back up. Although he is not on the front line, he is seeing everyday what that is doing to his fellow soldiers. Maybe he should become a surgeon when he gets back home, no dental work needed in the field. One night, he finds a woman trespassing near their base. He knows she is German and at first thinks she's a spy but gut tells him to just hear her out.
Beth doesn't have many months left with her nonagenarian father and she hopes to make the best of it. She often has regret that she should have done more for her mother, cancer had taken her. In a facility, Max is slowly living out his day and feel this time is coming, he asks Beth to bring in a box of his things he has to get some things in order. Beth takes a quick peak as she is assembling the items into a more sturdy, secure box and sees an old photograph of his father from the war, standing next to a beautiful pregnant woman. But it is not her mother. This would have been before her. She will have to ask him.
Max gets pulled into helping this woman, and her badly wounded friend. He needs to be stitched up, and cleaned up more proper than what the two ladies did and they need to get him out of the direct element. Max isn't sure what prompts him, but he helps them knowing if he is caught he will be seen as a traitor. As the days continue on, and this man starts to appear to heal, Max is worried about realizing he is going to miss these people he has helped, particularly the woman from the first night.
Beth asks her father about the photograph, but he is not yet ready to tell that story, but he does have one favor to ask. He wants Beth to see if she can find this woman. He has been searching for decades with no luck and this is one of his last wishes. What happened to her and the baby. Can Beth race against the clock her father has left and find the answers he has wanted for decades, and will this change things about what Beth knew about her father?
Max, a newly graduated dentist, finally gets his parents blessing to enlist into the war. He is sent over seas and soon in the midst of sewing and fixing soldiers back up. Although he is not on the front line, he is seeing everyday what that is doing to his fellow soldiers. Maybe he should become a surgeon when he gets back home, no dental work needed in the field. One night, he finds a woman trespassing near their base. He knows she is German and at first thinks she's a spy but gut tells him to just hear her out.
Beth doesn't have many months left with her nonagenarian father and she hopes to make the best of it. She often has regret that she should have done more for her mother, cancer had taken her. In a facility, Max is slowly living out his day and feel this time is coming, he asks Beth to bring in a box of his things he has to get some things in order. Beth takes a quick peak as she is assembling the items into a more sturdy, secure box and sees an old photograph of his father from the war, standing next to a beautiful pregnant woman. But it is not her mother. This would have been before her. She will have to ask him.
Max gets pulled into helping this woman, and her badly wounded friend. He needs to be stitched up, and cleaned up more proper than what the two ladies did and they need to get him out of the direct element. Max isn't sure what prompts him, but he helps them knowing if he is caught he will be seen as a traitor. As the days continue on, and this man starts to appear to heal, Max is worried about realizing he is going to miss these people he has helped, particularly the woman from the first night.
Beth asks her father about the photograph, but he is not yet ready to tell that story, but he does have one favor to ask. He wants Beth to see if she can find this woman. He has been searching for decades with no luck and this is one of his last wishes. What happened to her and the baby. Can Beth race against the clock her father has left and find the answers he has wanted for decades, and will this change things about what Beth knew about her father?
May 5, 2020
ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER by Aimie K. Runyan is a beautifully-written and touching novel of love, loss, sacrifice and survival that captivated me from beginning to end. Told in multiple timelines and from the perspectives of three different characters, it is set mainly in Germany during World War II and then later, in San Diego in 2007. Beth Cohen is trying to make the most of the short time she has left with her ninety-year-old father, Max. Although he has said little over the decades of his experience as a medic in World War II, he now wishes to go through a box of wartime memorabilia with Beth before he passes. As they peruse the contents of the box, Beth finds a startling photograph of her father with a beautiful young and pregnant woman whom he clearly adores. Who is the woman and what was their relationship in the past? Once Max has revealed his story, Beth is led into a worldwide search for the woman and child in the photo. German-born Johanna also has haunting memories of the past during the war. For the past sixty years, she has searched desperately for her missing sister, who was pregnant when she disappeared near the end of the war. The emotional stories of Max and Johanna flow seamlessly into Beth’s quest to help find closure for her father. The characters are wonderfully-portrayed and the pace of the story was perfect. I truly enjoyed this compelling story and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.
June 28, 2020
This book is absolutely breathtaking. Aimie Runyan has woven together the stories of four compelling characters in a way that is extremely touching. There is something so special about the books Aimie writes, giving us a strong sense of history along with equally strong feelings of family and love. This book gives us the juxtaposition of the people of Germany, torn between their quest to save their beloved Fatherland and their distrust and dismay as Hitler is unleashed on the world. This novel is also the story of a young man’s love for a woman, a love that haunts him even as an older man, and the search by his devoted daughter to being her father peace. There is risk and danger and heroism in this story, but there is also devotion, loyalty and the heartfelt connections. I’ve been following Aimie’s career as an author since her debut, and with her fifth book she has cemented herself among the best of historical fiction novelists.
June 22, 2020
This book was so good! I loved it!!❤️❤️
It’s told by three people and set during WW2. Beth is helping her Dad go through his box of memorabilia and finds a picture of him and a blond haired girl.
So begins their quest looking for that girl.
This book was hard to put down and towards the end I found myself almost in tears
Definitely recommend!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
It’s told by three people and set during WW2. Beth is helping her Dad go through his box of memorabilia and finds a picture of him and a blond haired girl.
So begins their quest looking for that girl.
This book was hard to put down and towards the end I found myself almost in tears
Definitely recommend!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
August 4, 2020
Across the Winding River by Elsa Hart is a rich historical novel. Dr. Beth Cohen regrets that she did not spend more time with her mother when she was dying, and she is not going to make that mistake with her father. His request to look at his old box of World War II mementoes provides Beth with insight into her father and has her on a quest. The story takes place from 1937 to 2007. It goes back in forth in time and switches point-of-view from Beth, Max (Beth’s father), and Johanna. Johanna lost touch with her sister after the war and she has wondered all these years what happened to her. Johanna would like to get answers for herself and for her children. We see how the war affected Max and Johanna plus we get answers on Beth’s hunt. It sounds confusing, but it is not. It is all beautifully woven together into one complete piece. I like how their stories connected. We get transported back to World War II where Max is serving as a medic and Johanna is an engineer who designs planes. Johanna has a brother in the SS and her sister marries a high-ranking SS officer. Johanna is against everything Hitler stands for and believes in, but she loves her job. We get a look at life inside Germany during the war. Across the Winding River is a well-written with a complex plot and developed characters. The story does play out in an expected manner and the pacing is slow in the beginning. It is a compelling story, though, that will soon capture and hold your interest. The last seventy-five percent is the best part of the book. The pace and tension ramp up. Everything begins coming together and you get that aha moment. Across the Winding River is a captivating story about hope, love, loss, and courage.
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